William combs huffman



(No Model.)

W. O. HUFFMAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 403,473. 7 Patented May 14, 1889..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM COMES HUFFMAN, OF ALBANY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES M. LEAVELL, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,473, dated May 14, 1889. Application filed July 30, 1888. Sem'al No. 281,422. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CoMBs HUFF- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vashing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in washing-machines; and it consists in a body or suds-box and a pounder and clothes-turner, all of peculiar construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the pounder, clothesturner, and operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the pounder-head, and Fig. 4: is a face view of the clothes-turner head.

The body or suds-box Alias two of its sides of a general double curved or ogee shape and joined at the bottom, being preferably formed of metal with an interior lining of separated slats, B, on which are guide-strips C. One side of the top of the box is extended to form a receptacle, D, that may communicate at the bottom with the suds-box, so that any water that may be in said receptacle will drain into the said box.

The operating mechanism consists of a frame, E, formed of angular side pieces, F, joined at the ends by cross-strips G H, one of which, G, is sufficiently extended to form a shield, and raised on each side of the said frame are arms I, joined by a handle-bar, K. The arms I preferably stand away from the user, who stands on the side opposite the receptacle D. At each end of the frame E are pivoted bars L M, with downwardly-projecting arms N O. The arm N on the bar L carries a pounder-head, P, of sufficient length to extend across the suds-box, and is provided on its under side with a series of recesses, R. The arm 0 on the bar M carries a block, S, with a toothed face, T, and extending across the box A. The frame E is pivotally sustained on the ends of a rod or rods, U, normally resting on the suds-box and journaled in the bearings on the outer edge of the receptacle D, so that the said frame may be lifted from the suds-box for the purpose of inserting or removing the fabric.

In operating the machine the frame E is oscillated by means of the handle K, and carries the pounder and block S alternately up and down the curved sides of the sudsbox. As the pounder moves downward, it is also directed forwardly by the strips C. This action causes the fabric in the box to be rubbed and pressed between the slats B and the pounder, and the air in the recesses R is compressed and seeks to escape through the said fabric, thus aiding materially in cleansing it. As the plunger descends, the

block S ascends, and when the motion is reversed the said block engages under the fabric and overturns it and forces it into the path of the pounder. The fabricis prevented from slipping on the block or clothes-turner S by the teeth T thereon. The shield on the frame E prevents the water from splashing the user.

It will be seen that the peculiar shape of the body causes the pounder to both press and rub the fabric being washed, and thereby facilitating the process.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The body having double-curved or ogeeshaped sides, said sides having alining of slats, the guide-strips C, secured to the slats, and the receptacle D, formed from a continuation of the upper portion of two of the walls and having a communication with the suds-box, in combination with a reciprocating rubber, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the tub or sudsbox, of the reciprocating frame E, journaled on the bail U, the frame being of angular form and having the shield G, the bars L M, pivoted to the reciprocating frame, the arm N, depending from the arm L and having the counter-head secured to its lower end, and the clothes-turning head S, secured to the lower end of the arm 0, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM COMES HUFFMAN.

\Vitnesses:

GRANT ANDREW, D. A. D. STICK. 

